Java Music Club strikes chord of mutual support

St. Andrew's Terrace program empowering residents
10/29/2014  - Lisa Bailey
 

The way residents often leave the Java Music Club sessions at St. Andrew’s Terrace testify to the program’s effectiveness.

“It certainly makes them happy,” life enrichment worker Jessica Jorey says. “When they leave they have a smile on their face; they feel good about it.”

That’s because the Java Music Club gives residents of the Cambridge long-term care community the space and opportunity to share their experiences, opinions and thoughts freely on a host of topics in an open environment; the discussion can be light hearted and fun, looking at music and animals, or delve into relevant and important aspects of life such as perseverance, acceptance and day-to-day challenges.

The Java Music Club is a research-based approach to resident engagement that’s like a mutual support program to address loneliness and depression.

Each session centres on a specific topic or theme– one that can be selected because it’s impacting residents or is something they can relate to, Jorey notes. Each subject comes with a set of questions and quotes that can spark conversation, and the program is interspersed with music that is relatable and generates singing or other responses in most everyone. The music is grounding and seems to help people move to a place where they can open up to others.

Jorey says there is a real focus on simply listening and being attentive to one another’s thoughts and perspectives, with each individual holding a talking stick as they speak. It’s an opportunity for residents to connect, learn more about one another and encourage each other, which is empowering as they help one another.

“It creates a good community within the program,” Jorey says. “And it creates a good support.”

For instance, she’s seen residents be very open and frank about their concerns and/or conditions during a session on health.

“There might be something that’s weighing on them that they don’t necessarily feel comfortable or want to leave with family, or they don’t want to burden their family with it, and to know that someone’s listening is very important,” Jorey says. “It’s an avenue for residents to talk about it.”

She’s also seen residents share more about their lives and experiences. One man, for example, revealed that he used to play an instrument during a Java Music Club meeting on music. Jorey referred him to St. Andrew’s Terrace’s music therapist.

“You learn little things about people that I think helps us better their care overall,” she says.

Life enrichment manager Sara Byma says the Java Music Club is like a combination of music therapy with valuable themes that draws out true and meaningful discussion amongst residents.

“This is about providing a space where you can feel comfortable to talk about what you’re going through and bringing people together who have a similar experience,” she says.

Jorey learned about the Java Music Club during a Therapeutic Recreation Ontario conference in 2012. The program launched at St. Andrew’s Terrace in 2013, following staff training. Sessions are held in every home area by members of the life enrichment team, and they are offered to different groups of residents. It’s engaged younger residents, for instance, and other gatherings include residents who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Participants may come and go in the different groups but “there’s always a nice feeling in the group and everybody’s supportive and listening to others, and they enjoy the music,” Jorey says.

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